Pure, Unadulterated Joy

Suggestions on where to spend Easter Sunday; Great letter from American Family Association too. Happy Easter!

Just a quick Easter note: If you'd like to attend an Easter service celebration, here's a few recommendations for you to consider if you don't know where to go in Los Angeles:

Easter Schedule 

King's Harbor Church in Torrance, CA

15TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

Saturday March 30th at 9:30am
Veteran's Park Redondo Beach
309 Esplanade Redondo Beach, CA 90277

EASTER SUNDAY

6am Sunrise Service at Veterans Park - MAP
9 & 11am services with baptisms to follow at King's Harbor Church - MAP 23915 Garnier St, Torrance, CA 90505

JOURNEY OF FAITH

All the details are here: http://www.journeyoffaith.com/ 

You may also enjoy Bel Aire Pres' service at the Hollywood Bowl: 

Join us for an Easter celebration at the Hollywood Bowl! The celebration will feature a worship choir, orchestra, band and guest speaker, best-selling author of Crazy Love, Francis Chan. Whether you are simply curious about faith or a longtime follower of Jesus, Easter at the Bowl will leave you filled with life and an unshakeable hope!

When: Sunday, March 31, 2013 | 11 a.m.
Where: The Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Avenue | Los Angeles, California 90068
Free. No tickets required.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Following is a letter I like from AFA and if you're a Christian, and even if you're not, I hope you'll take a moment to read it too.

And I quote: 

To my fellow Christians, I say, He is Risen!

"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Matthew 4:17

March 29, 2013

I recently heard a very popular Christian speaker talk to a large audience for an hour. He said nothing heretical. He said nothing controversial. He just focused on the "unconditional" love of God. Again, nothing wrong with what he did say, but it is what he did not say that bothered me. He said nothing about repentance of sin. There is a reason Jesus said what he said in the above bible verse. And there is a reason John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world with the exact same proclamation in Matthew 3:2: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

There is a popular trend going on in the American Christian church. The trend is to talk of the love of God without talking about the justice of God. But if you read the bible, it is clear, there exists both the grace of God and the wrath of God, and Jesus Christ spoke of both.

Many Christians around the world have been celebrating Holy Week this week culminating today with Easter Sunday or what some churches call Resurrection Sunday. It is to commemorate the victory of Jesus over Satan, sin, death and hell. This is good news! And "good news" is the meaning of the word "gospel."

It is true that God's love for mankind is "unconditional." However, in order for man to be in right relationship with God, man must conform his life to match with God's requirement of man. And God does not force this decision on man. God draws a person to himself, but it is the free will of the individual to decide if he or she will obey God's requirements for a right relationship or not.

Jesus called this experience being "born again." In other words, a person (every human) must understand that he or she has violated God's laws and is forever separated from God spiritually unless he or she repents of their sin and trust in the shed blood of Jesus on the cross for forgiveness of that sin in order to be counted among those who have been redeemed. Redeemed from the consequences of unrepentant sin which is death and hell.

What I am writing here is not popular in modern day America where we want to live our own life without interference from God. It is our natural tendency to live for ourselves instead of obey the commands of God. That is the eternal struggle between flesh and the spirit.

In order to prove our love for Christ, he says we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily, and follow him. Our "cross" is a challenge to wake up daily and try our best to live like Jesus. The way we learn to live like Jesus is to study the bible, take time to pray and fellowship with other believers (followers) which we call "church." God knows we will fail at this precisely because we are human. Sometimes we are tempted by sin and we give in to it. But the Bible also says that if we are willing to confess our sins to God, He is willing to forgive us. That also is great news!

No one is compelled to believe this. You may read this and call it foolishness. That is your right. But if that is your view, I at least encourage you to read one book in the bible, the gospel of John, and consider the claims of the bible and Christ before you dismiss Christianity.

To my fellow Christians, I say, He is Risen!

Sincerely,

Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association 

A different perspective on @CrossCampusLA; Sneak peek @FarmSanctuary Fundraiser with @kevin_nealon & @ColbieCaillat

By Joy A. Kennelly

I had the opportunity to re-connect with one of the startups from the Cross Campus fashion startup show recently and asked him what his perspective was on how everything went down for him.

His answer was very revealing and gave me a different perspective which I wanted to share with you now before I write about the wonderful fundraiser I recently attended for Farm Sanctuary at the Peterson Auto Musuem.

I've been so slammed it's been hard to find the time, or the brain space to put down on "paper" what I wanted to convey until tonight. Read on if you care and if you don't, wait for the next blog post because it will be all about Kevin Nealon hosting (seen here with the lovely and gracious Meredith Turner who is the publicist for Farm Sanctuary), Colbie Caillat singing and everyone else I had the pleasure of meeting during the fun Farm Sanctuary event.

I promise.

In any case, this young gentleman from Cross Campus' fashion startup shared they had made back the cost of their booth and he felt if the event had been more organized and professional they might not have participated.

He appreciated how it was "thrown together," (his words, not mine) because it had a startup feel to it. That made total sense and I'm sure others who have never attended a fashion show probably thought it was amazing too.

I also realized, after thinking about it, my view was tempered first by the fact when I had asked Cross Campus if I could host my mixer at their location with a certain company only to be turned down and then to learn later that the very company I had highlighted at my mixer was then invited separately to present at their site at a later time (not publicized publicly by the way, but I learned of it because I was there attending another event), it ticked me off.

Then, throw on top of that slap in the face, I also had fallen rather hard and twisted my foot really severely causing me to be in a lot of pain the entire night the fashion show was going on, it also tempered my opinion. 

So, all this to say, yes, there were glitches. Yes, everything I mentioned in the last blog post is true and I hope the guys running it take into account for next year, but perhaps I wouldn't have been as harsh a critic if I had been treated with more respect by Cross Campus and hadn't been in pain the entire time.

Not to excuse my behavior, or theirs, merely to explain it.

And that's all she wrote. For now...

 

 

LA's first Startup Fashion Show by Digital LA and Cross Campus

Here's a quick intro to the review I gave which you can read in full on my F/B site: 

More than 7 fashion startups and 1 supermodel, Sarah DeAnna, took the stage at LA's first-ever startup fashion show, produced by Digital LA and Cross Campus this past week. The show featured styles exclusively by LA fashion startups, including: Ellie, Modern Nerd, Me Undies, Style Club, Carbon38, Tailored Republic, Original Tomboy and more. 

Having covered LA Fashion Week for over 7 years and attended high-end haute couture fashion shows while living in the South, this was the first time I've heard an announcer encourage the crowd to, "Make some noise" every time a model walked down the runway, especially for the underwear models. Then again, this was the first fashion show where two male models were brave enough to wear only underwear and socks too. 

Read more and see all the pix here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151850033698849.1073741826.348417258848&type=1&l=3ff3703105

Quick update

I will be sharing two very cool events I attended last week very shortly.

Stay thirsty my friends.

It won't be too long...

Hey @BachelorNation, @BachelorABC Finale with Host, @ChrisBHarrison at his new clothing line DaVinci of CA launch party, @Ariejr & @JefHolm's Chicago party and more!

By Joy A. Kennelly

This past Monday, while Bachelor fans sat glued to their TV sets to watch the finale all around the world, I was invited to mix and mingle with ABC's reality TV personality and Host of The Bachelor, Chris Harrison, at a launch party for his new line, DaVinci of California by Chris Harrison at the DaVinci of California store on Melrose Avenue.

Christopher Wicks is the founder and designer of English Laundry and now DaVinci of California, which arrived in stores the same day The Bachelor finale aired.

And I was there!:)

Here's the invite which enticed me to attend. Wouldn't you have said yes too? I love seeing menswear taking a more visible role in LA Fashion Week and since I'm a fan of the Bachelor and stylish Chris... 

Here's Designer Christopher Wicks, Kris Jenner and Bachelor Host Chris Harrison during the Grand Opening Of DaVinci Of California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/WireImage) 2013 Tiffany Rose

Wherever there's celebrities, you will see my friend, Tiffany, shooting. She's an excellent photographer and I highly recommend her services. 

Chris Harrison wasn't the only one from The Bachelor in attendance though, recognize these lovely ladies?

 My friends and I also enjoyed meeting Bachelor Bob; OC Desperate Housewife, Gretchen Rossi; models, fashionistas and of course, Chris Harrison, the man of the hour, too when he wasn't busy being interviewed. 

 Janet, my friend seen with Bob below, cracked me up because she was absolutely unaware he was "Bachelor Bob." Of course, he's done more with his career than just that, but I will always remember him fondly as Bachelor Bob. He's just as cuddly and friendly in person as he was in the show.:)  

Chris, of course was super busy, but was gracious to take time to pose for a few pix too. I was surprised at how tall he is in person since I always thought he was shorter than me. I don't know why, no reason to believe that, I just did.:) 

When I worked for the Oscars a few years back I got to see him in action on the red carpet which was fun. I think he's the consummate professional host. I'm going to practice his stance and hand gestures cuz he's very dynamic. Gotta love a man in a suit!:)

   
Here's some of the guests and ambiance to give you the vibe.

 

"Bachelor-related" drinks were prevelant at parties around the country and one company, Cruzan Rum, created this delicious sounding drink they lovingly called, the Cruzan® Final Rose. 

Ingredients:

- 2 parts Cruzan® Light Rum

- 1/2 parts Hibiscus Liqueur  

- 1 part Fresh Lime Juice

- 3 Drops Rose Water

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker, shake for 15 seconds. Pour over fresh ice in a Collins glass. Top with soda water.

Former Bachelorette suitors, Arie and Jef, decided to make a little money off the finale and their fame by holding a party in Chicago for hundreds of happy fans if these pix by Photographer, Robert Mikovich, are any indication.

Guess once a Bachelor, always a Bachelor, right?:)

But for those who are still swooning over this season's Bachelor couple, Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici, and want to know all about the ring Sean selected, here's a replica if you're in the market, or want to pin it on Pinterest.:) 

Bachelor Sean proposed to Catherine with a cushion-cut diamond in a cushion-shaped halo with a pave-diamond-encrusted split-shank setting. Cushion Cut diamonds are a beautiful and increasingly popular choice that feature curved sides, rounded corners and a pillow-like shape. 

Cushions represent the third most popular brilliant cut sold and paired with the flexibility of a pave diamond halo engagement ring represents the romance and whimsy for a unique one of a kind token of love.  Just like Sean and Catherine.:)

James Allen, a global luxury jeweler that specializes in diamonds, engagement rings and high end jewelry, from classic solitaire rings - to intricate pave settings - to sleek modern designs,  offers an extensive collection of jewelry with countless options to fit your personal style. Buy one just like this there!

And thus concludes my obsession with this season's Bachelor. Every season I say I'm not going to watch and then I get sucked in.:) Glad it's over for now!

Plus, parties with real Bachelors and Bachelorette's and Chris are much more fun! 

@SteveForbesCEO @USAToday @WSJ @KNX1070 You need to interview @nanxi_liu of @Enplug

By Joy A. Kennelly

Tonight I heard the most humble, down-to-earth, amazing young woman speak at a female networking event for entreprenuers and was blown away. Most times when I hear 20 somethings at previous conferences they're rather vapid and annoying, but Nanxi Liu of Enplug impressed the hell out of me.

Then, just now, looking her up on Linkedin, I was blown away even more. I don't know why Forbes or any of the tech, entreprenuer, women-focused magazines aren't writing about her which is why I decided to tell everyone they have to interview this girl.

She's that impressive to me.

I've been an entreprenuer pretty much my entire life and fought to find the training I've needed to run my businesses. I counted up recently and figured out I've run 3 businesses so far since college, generally five years at a time. Plus, I've worked with over 30 clients if memory holds true which was also great training ground. Each one taught me something different and after closing my PR & DIgital Marketing firm in December it's been exciting to consider what's next.

After listening to Nanxi speak and reading somewhere that you become like the five people you spend the most time with, I've made a conscious decision to upgrade my circles. Listening to her story has only confirmed this decision. 

Here's an article on this very topic in case you've never heard this before and care to learn: You're The Average Of The Five People You Spend The Most Time With

Enough about me though, here's some information on Nanxi:

 

She's since graduated Berkley and here's some information I grabbed off her wordpress blog called http://nanxiliu.wordpress.com/tag/gaming/

Hope you don't mind Nanxi!:) Read her Linkedin profile too: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nanxi

Now, in her own words, here's some of her accomplishments to date (more on her Linkedin profile fyi.)

Enplug Co-founded this rapidly-growing tech company that is building the first real-time advertising platform for the physical world.

Nanoly The biotechnology company I founded while in college. We’re developing a polymer that enables vaccines to survive without refrigeration. Company is a recipient of The Dell Social Innovation Awards.  Also received awards from NASA, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, Duke University, Cornell University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego.

Fonite An advanced caller-ID system for your smartphone.

TheRomanticallyChallenged.com Your go-to site for quick, inexpensive, and easy romantic ideas. We’ve also interview celebrities to share their romantic ideas with us.

Collection of Piano Music Currently writing a collection of 10 piano pieces to publish. I’m halfway there!

My Pageant Coach (in progress) My best friend Vivian, who is also my partner for The Romantically Challenged, and I are building a pageant consultation business. We’ve both won a bunch of pageants and thought we could help others with our experience.

Events I host various events from dance performances to political forums to movie screenings throughout the year. Come hang out with me!

RickRemoval.com Funny spam blocker my friends and I made for the Yahoo University Hacking Competition.

GGWith.Me Game site that my friends and I made for AngelHack hacking competition.

CrimeFighter An Android app I built with friends to help report crime on college campuses. We won UC Berkeley’s “Big Ideas for Improving Student Life.”

RootMusic My friends and I created the first Root Music Facebook app. With our app, you can upload and post up to 2 hours of music on your friends’ Facebook wall.

Now are you impressed? You'll be even more impressed when you read her Linkedin profile. I swear you will: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nanxi

I realized a few months back that I needed to take a break from mentoring women through my Goal Gals Group and begin focusing on finding mentors for myself. Hearing Nanxi share who all she has mentoring her makes that only more of a focus of mine. 

I liked her approach to pursuing things too. Don't just focus on one company, one opportunity, pursue all and be happy when you land one. That's where I'm at also. I am pursuing many different avenues and feel that the one that is ultimately right will fall into place when the time is right.

Time to find more people who will mentor, invest and launch me into the next phase I've also decided after hearing her speak tonight. I've not been this inspired by a female entreprenuer in years! I really do hope some of the publications I've highlighted choose to interview her. 

And no, I'm not her publicist. Just someone who likes to encourage and support those I believe in and admire. And I definitely admire her. 

That's all. Thanks for reading. 

Some of my favorite fashion discoveries: Marc Jacobs in Disconnect, & Coco Rocha 2x

By Joy A. Kennelly

Sometimes I receive so much good content it's hard to keep up and it takes awhile to actually find time to post everything. Since I have a few moments available today, thought I'd share a few.

In particular, an intriguing mystery film called Disconnect with people I respect like Jason Bateman, Frank Grillo, Paula Patton, Alexander Skarsgard, Max Thieriot and fashion designer Marc Jacobs who makes his film & acting debut in the upcoming dramatic thriller opening in select theaters on April 12th, 2013!

A hard-working lawyer, attached to his cell phone, can't find the time to communicate with his family. A couple is drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online. A widowed ex-cop struggles to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate. An ambitious journalist sees a career-making story in a teen that performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today's wired world. (Official blurb provided by publicist)

Watch the riveting trailer here which opens with one of my favorite songs right now: 

 

And then just because I like fun, flirty ads, two of my favorite fashion ads to date by White House/Black Market featuring the incredible dancer, Coco Rocha, including a behind-the-scenes peek at what goes into making these commercials.

WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET - FALL 2012

 

Model Coco Rocha takes center stage in a television ad entitled 'Alter Ego'. Performing a carefully choreographed dance routine, the multi-talented Rocha demonstrates that being a great model can sometimes mean more than just striking a pose.

For the spot she perfected her moves with the help of Broadway choreographer Laurin Latarro.  Featuring approximately 12 different head-to-toe looks in the 30 second spot - Rocha becomes the tap dance equivalent of a quick change artist.  All plays out with a surprise reveal that takes the concept to the next level.

  
The print ads and marketing images, photographed by Glen Luchford, also carry through with the dance theme. Shot on the same set at the TV spot, the images feature Rocha in various states of dance as well as some more traditional fashion poses.
 
Then, because this spot was so popular, Supermodel and co-host of TV’s The Face, Coco Rocha was invited back for White House | Black Market’s Spring 2013 ad campaign.

 

Grabbing the spotlight once again, Coco Rocha brings a sense of vibrancy and freshness to an otherwise static, robotic work environment. Coco dances her way through six head to toe work-wear ready looks from the White House Black Market WorkKit Collection.

This has been your lunch break. Hope you enjoyed what the publicists shared with me!

Now, back to work!:)

 

 

What Makes Me Happy and What Drives Me Crazy - if you're pitching or asking me for something.:)

By Joy A. Kennelly

Recently, I stumbled across Casey Fahey's article "10 Things To Do To Get Me Involved In Your 'Ask.'" and it got me to thinking. What would I recommend publicists, friends and colleagues do differently to receive my help if I was writing an article on this same topic. 

Here's what I came up with because this happens over and over again. I'm probably not going to be as gracious as Mr. Fahey, but it's kinda been building and it's time to set the record straight once and for all. 

1. When I am donating my time, talent and expertise to help you further your goals because you've asked my help spreading the word about your product, company, or topic and/or you've asked my advice on how to do something you know I know how to do (i.e. Social Media, PR, Writing), the most basic of requests I have is to simply receive a Thank You when I do. 

You'd be amazed at how many people take without being grateful or express the common courtesy my mother raised me with, to always thank those who help or offer something.

Makes me wonder where manners have gone in today's society, or how they were raised. It also makes me not want to help any further or be associated with someone so gauche because they will probably do the same thing with anyone I refer them to and I don't want that affiliation.

2. If I donate my time to include you in my blog or promote you in some manner, please don't come back with a lot of criticism or requests to change. I'm usually extremely busy and blogging often takes a good 5-7 hours to do what I do for people and clients. It's why I don't blog as often as I used to. I also don't always have time to keep finessing something you didn't like because your ego is wrapped up in the picture or mention.

It makes me want to never help you again even though I may normally really respect and appreciate what you're doing. Also, makes me question the integrity of what you're doing because you're so concerned with something so minor when in the grander scheme of things, any publicity at all is normally a good thing. 

Let it go. Move on. You're not that important!:)

What people also never seem to recognize is the SEO value of my blog showcasing whatever topic I cover making it appear in the top 10 searches of Google is worth thousands of dollars of advertising costs you just didn't have to pay because I included you.

Again, be grateful!

I have yet to ever hear from a professional publicist complaining of what I've written about their client when I've shared the final blog result with them. It's people who aren't in my field who think nothing of it when in reality, they would never think to ask a professional journalist to change a quote, exchange a picture or change a reference.

I am a professional. Please respect this. When I think you're right, I have the time, or it doesn't matter to me, I will do it, but if not? Deal with it.

Be grateful. Be humble. Be appreciative. 

That's all I ask.

3. When a "friend" constantly asks for PR advice because they want to do what I've taken years to train for, learn experientially and build simply because they think it's easy, that makes me question the "friendship." This is especially galling when they again, don't say thank you, or take the time to review something I've written that promotes their efforts because they're "too busy."

Why bother? I don't have time and will realize this isn't a "friendship" at all, but merely a user taking advantage of my good will and willingness to help. My good graces towards that person ends then and there.

4. If I ask you to use a specific email address or phone number, please do that. I have six email accounts that serve different purposes and one that I'm closing down and rarely check. If you consistently choose to email me at that dead account, or call me on a number that I no longer have access to even though I've repeatedly asked you to update your records for 4 months, then I realize you are a person who doesn't listen, doesn't know how to follow simple directions, and isn't worth bothering with because you either aren't very smart or don't care. 

Why should I? I simply don't have the time to keep correcting stupidity. And that is stupidity. Sorry to be blunt, but I calls them as I sees them. Get it together people.

5. For the record, if you're using one social media platform and connecting it to Facebook, understand that hashtags work in one realm, but not in every platform. Instagram is hashtag heaven. Facebook is not. If you want to share a picture on Instagram - hashtag away. But don't do that on Facebook.

There is different protocol per each social media platform and if you aren't aware of that, ask, or read Hubspot. They have really great free articles on all the important social media platforms and they're easy to read too.  

6. Lastly, because this is a biggie. Please, please, please don't send me email after email after email. I recently had this experience on a film site I'm part of and after six non-stop emails, had to approach the webmaster to request them add a filter process to make that person stop.

Even after I asked the person to stop emailing me and told him I would get to it when I had time, he still continued to send me emails. I decided right then and there I wouldn't support his project because he again, had no manners, didn't understand basic email protocol, and wasn't respecting my time or request. 

I don't do business with people I don't respect, or who don't respect me. It's just as common as that. If I ask you not to do something, please don't. That's all.

Or as this cartoon so humorously explains:

I can't shrink the cartoon to fit this window unfortunately. The last pane says, "Binge Communicating Must Stop." EXACTLY!:)

I will say, to end on a positive note, this is what makes me continue to do business, promote or help people:

1. I LOVE hearing when someone really likes what I've done for them. It makes my whole day. Literally. I put my heart, my soul and my mind into writing and to be recognized and appreciated is what really makes me happy. I'm not motivated by money, but gratitude.:)

2. I also LOVE it when someone likes what I do so much they tweet it out, share it on Facebook, or even in a Linkedin group because not only is that helping them, it's helping me. It's a total win win.

3. I LOVE receiving texts or calls from people just checking in without asking for anything because then when they do ask, I know it's sincere and coming from a place of friendship, not just using me. It's also nice to have people acknowledge me when good things happen because that means they're watching and care. Then, when that person asks for a favor, I'm so happy to help. 

When the only time I hear from someone is when they want something...

So, I hope you understand me a little better now. And even if you don't, that's ok. I feel better after sharing.:)